More than 1,500 incidents reported in 2025; 420 terrorists killed as police deploy cutting-edge technology
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa saw a sharp rise in terrorism in 2025, with more than 500 attacks reported, a 50% increase from the previous year.
According to a detailed security assessment obtained by The Express PK Press Club, the province faced 1,588 terrorism-related incidents, reflecting a rapidly increasing militant threat in settled and tribal regions. Despite the increase in attacks, security forces managed to prevent 320 major strikes, while 137 police officers and staff lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) report highlights that joint operations by KP Police, CTD and security agencies led to the arrest of 1,244 suspected terrorists, while 420 high-profile militants were neutralized in intelligence operations.
Districts such as Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Hangu and Peshawar remained the most frequently targeted, with a notable series of attacks planned and executed across the Afghan border.
Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, in an interview with The Express PK Press Club, acknowledged the increase in attacks on police, but noted that the number of police casualties had decreased compared to last year. He noted that advanced technologies, including anti-drone systems and thermal imaging, enable counterterrorism teams to stay ahead of the militants’ changing tactics.
According to the IGP, weapons once used by NATO forces in Afghanistan are now in the possession of terrorists operating in the tribal belt and southern districts of KP. Yet, he stressed, police remain firmly on the front lines, setting new benchmarks in counterterrorism efforts.
In a significant development, the federal government has approved a historic Rs 1 billion program for policing the merged tribal districts. This funding will support the construction of police lines, new police stations and the purchase of vehicles and bulletproof vests, marking the first substantial investment in the region’s security apparatus. The IGP said this improved infrastructure will strengthen policing capacity in areas adjacent to the Afghan border, where militant infiltration remains a persistent challenge. He added that militants attempted to establish illegal checkpoints on highways in DI Khan and parts of Bannu earlier this year, but state authority had since been fully restored.
The CTD report also highlights a 56% increase in attacks targeting police personnel, from 327 in 2024 to 510 in 2025. Throughout the year, security agencies conducted 2,791 search and strike operations and uncovered 25 high-value foreign terrorists linked to global militant networks. At the same time, extortion networks operating in Peshawar and other districts have been systematically dismantled.
Dr Mian Saeed, a police officer in the capital Peshawar, confirmed that the notorious Lali group, wanted in nearly 30 criminal cases, had been eliminated in a recent police operation.
